A narcotics investigation Friday by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of one person on drug charges. Authorities say 39-year old Donald James Ryan, of Sidney, was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to deliver/over 5-grams.

Fremont County deputies, assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and Sidney Police,  made the arrest in the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop parking lot. Ryan was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.

The attorney for a man convicted in a 2014 murder and arson in Crawford County is seeking a new trial for his client. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Attorney Michael Williams filed a motion in Crawford County District Court on Wednesday, requesting a new trial for 26-year old Michael David Schenk, of Denison, who was convicted on Jan. 28th of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree arson, in connection with the March 2014 murders of 80-year old Marvin Huelsing, of Maple River and 81-year old Alice Huisenga, of Arcadia. Their badly burned bodies were found on Huelsing’s farm between Deloit and Denison.

Williams’ motion contends that the verdict was contrary to the evidence in the case. It also says the court erred in several ways, including overruling the defense’s objection to the introduction of a Walmart receipt that was used to connect Schenk to a pickup found at the scene. Schenk’s sentencing is March 13th.

Schenk and a codefendant, 19-year old Jayden Ray Chapman, of Denison each were initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. The arson charge against Schenk was reduced during the trial. Chapman’s trial is set for April 28.

A third defendant, 37-year old Erika Dains, of Denison pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second-degree burglary and misdemeanor accessory after the fact. As part of a plea agreement, she testified for the prosecution in Schenk’s trial.

Two men were arrested Thursday night in north Omaha, while a third escaped, after the vehicle they were in stopped as it was being pursued by Iowa State Patrol troopers into Nebraska. 38-year old Michael McNary was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Authorities say a passenger was 24-year old Anthony Miller. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Douglas County, NE, emergency 911 dispatchers told Omaha police that Iowa troopers were chasing a westbound vehicle on Interstate 480 into Omaha and that it left I-480 onto Dodge Street. The troopers ended their pursuit shortly after crossing the Missouri River into Omaha.

ABLE 1, the Omaha police department’s helicopter, was in the area and spotted the vehicle at 15th and Dodge Streets, police said. ABLE 1 provided updates for officers as the vehicle traveled in the northeast precinct area. Police said no Omaha officers pursued the vehicle.The vehicle stopped in the area of 38th and Cass Streets and three occupants fled from the vehicle on foot.

After a perimeter was established by police, McNary and Miller were taken into custody around 10 p.m. They were taken to police headquarters at 15th and Howard Streets and were booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of various charges.

The Iowa D-O-T estimates the state could collect about 40-million dollars a year from farmers and construction companies if the tax exemption for so-called “red dye” fuel was lifted — and a few lawmakers are questioning why that tax advantage is being maintained. Farmers and construction companies that primarily operate diesel-powered machinery off of the state’s roads buy fuel that has a dyed with a red tint, to signify it is NOT subject to the state’s fuel tax. Representative Ralph Watts, a Republican from Adel, says the size of farming operations has grown significantly and heavy farm equipment is now being driven on more miles of road to get from field to field.

“If you live in a rural area, you meet them all the time,” Watts says. “The heavier equipment with cleated tires place more stress on the roadway than vehicles with road tires.” That “additional stress” is taking a toll on rural roads and bridges, according to Watts. “The need for moving manure from hog confinements has become a huge factor for rural roads where the movement of manure is done by large tank wagons pulled by farm tractors over the roads,” Watts says. “My personal experience in watching this happen showed me those movements literally pulverize the existing gravel, which requires replacement.” Watts tried, but failed this past week to get his fellow legislators to go along with charging just a 10-cent-a-gallon state tax on red dye fuel.

“Some misguided miscreant might ask: ‘What do you have against farmers?'” Watts said during House debate of the bill that raised the state’s motor fuel tax by a dime a gallon. “I have nothing against farmers. Although I am not a farmer, I am a member of the Farm Bureau — at least I was earlier this morning.” The Iowa Farm Bureau opposes the idea of taxing the diesel fuel that’s used in farm equipment. Only eight other members of the Iowa House joined Watts this past Tuesday to try to force a debate over his proposal, while 87 voted against Watts and his idea was permanently tabled.

(Radio Iowa)

A collision between two semis Friday afternoon in Harrison County resulted in a Missouri man being sent to the hospital. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 36-year old Jason Durham, of Bates City, MO., was transported by Mondamin Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, after the 2007 Freightliner semi he was driving went out of control and hit another semi at around 3:40-p.m. on southbound Interstate 29, about seven-miles north of the Mondamin exit.

Officials say the semi entered the west ditch and hit a large sign before re-entering the interstate and hitting a second southbound 2007 Freightliner, driven by 52-year old Jose Ramirez, of Atascosa, TX. Ramirez’ semi was in the right lane when it was hit. After the collision, Durham’s semi entered the west ditch again, went through fence and hit a culvert before coming to rest in a wooded area.

Ramirez was not injured in the crash. He pulled his semi onto the shoulder of the road, and stopped. His vehicle sustained damage to its trailer. Durham’s semi was considered a total loss. The accident remained under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’re investigating a letter left at an Ames mosque that contained anti-Muslim messages and threats. Ames Police spokesman Jason Tuttle says officers responded around 4 p.m. Thursday to a report that the note had been left on the door of Darul Arqum Islamic Center.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport officials are seeking state funds for a proposed youth sports complex that would include a hotel and other amenities. The Quad-City Times reports that Davenport plans to apply for Iowa Economic Development Authority grants for the project comprised of a 200-room hotel, a water park, a shopping and restaurant area and a youth sports complex.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court is dismissing a lawsuit brought by chiropractors who claimed the state’s dominant health insurer was engaging in illegal price-fixing. The lawsuit challenged Wellmark’s practice of making its negotiated reimbursement rates for medical providers available to self-insured employers and out-of-state insurers in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. It contended those deals violated Iowa antitrust law by restricting competition.

GRIMES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they have discovered a body in the area where a car had earlier been found in an icy Iowa creek. Authorities say the car was found Friday morning just north of Grimes with no one inside. The body was later discovered nearby. KCCI-TV reports that the car belongs to a woman who was reported missing on Monday.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a local teen was arrested Thursday on a drug charge. The 15-year old male was taken into custody for alleged illegal possession of a controlled substance, believed to be marijuana. His arrest was the result of an investigation by the Clarinda Police Department and the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department.

The juvenile was released to the custody of his legal guardian pending additional action by Page County Juvenile Court Services and the Juvenile Court Division of the Page County Attorney’s Office.

Senator Joni Ernst has asked Veterans Affairs officials to explain how the agency handled the case of a veteran whose frozen body was found last Friday in a Des Moines park. Forty-one-year-old Richard Miles was an Army veteran who did three tours of duty in the Middle East. His family says he suffered from post traumatic stress and had hoped to be admitted to the Central Iowa V-A Hospital on February 15th, but he was given a prescription and dismissed.  “While the law enforcement investigation into Richard’s death is ongoing, it’s tragic our nation lost a veteran who may not have received the mental health treatment that he deserved.”

Ernst on Monday asked for an “immediate and thorough” investigation of the man’s case and she set today (Friday) as her deadline for getting a report back from the V-A. “As a member of the Senate I do have a responsibility to ensure our nation lives up the promises that our nation lives up to the promises that it has made to our veterans,” Ernst says. “And as someone who was deployed in the Iraq War, it’s one of my top priorities to ensure our veterans are receiving the care they deserve after they have selflessly sacrificed for our nation.”

Five days after Miles was dismissed from the Central Iowa V-A, his body was found by a man walking a dog in Des Moines Water Works Park. Miles was not wearing a coat or shoes when his body was found.

(Radio Iowa)